Grain-meter



- charging from the bottom.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOSEPH B. DUTION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

GRAIN-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,096, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed March 10,1887. Serial No. 230,322.

vT0 aZZ whom it may concern-.-

provements in Grain-Meters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference .being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in grain-meters.

The object of the invention is to construct a device for the purpose of weighing or measuring grain, that will be thoroughly automatic in its operation.

4 The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the mechanism for operating the doors at the receiving and.

tions of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter set forth. I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved devicein position to receive grain from any suitable hopper above. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing position of parts upon dis- Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4. is a central vertical section.

In'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents a suitable frame-work, which supports the operating parts of the device.

B is a bifurcated lever, the two arms of the fork of which are fulcrumed in proper bear- 'ings, a, on the frame A, the short arms of such forks supportingthe receptacle 0, as is ordinary in devices of this character. The endeof the arm I) of the lever B has a vertical movement in the slotted ehd c of the standard D,

doors or gates/F, which are secured upon rock- (No model.)

shafts G, properlyjournaled in or'through the walls of the hopper, the corresponding ends of such-shafts projecting to and beyond the rear wall of the receptacle 0, and have secured to them the rocker-arms H, the ends of the latter being connected by means of the rods I to the upper end of the slide-bar J, which has a vertical sliding movement in guides (1 upon the rear end of the receptacle.

K are doors pivotabl y hung at the discharge or bottom of the receptacle 0, as ate, and these doors are connected by means of the rods or links L to the slide-bar J.

M are counter-weights, which are secured upon the doors K by means of the rods N.

O is an'arm projecting inwardly from the frame, and has pivotally secured to its free end a slotted bar, 1?.

R is alatch-lever, which is properly fulerumed to one of the doors K, the hook end of such lever engaging with a stop, 71, on the opposite door. The longer arm of this latch lever B should preferably be bifurcated, to embrace the slotted end of the bar P, and is retained in its relative position therewith by a pin, 6, which passes through the slot.

S is a spring, which bears down upon the lever B, to prevent an accidental opening of the doors K.

Any suitable registering mechanism may be attached to the device to designate the nunr her of times the receptacle has been filled and discharged.

In practice, the parts being constructed substantially as described, and being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the operation is as follows: As the receptacle fills from a source ofsupply above the hopper, the weight ofgrain required overbalanees the weight B and said receptacle. In so descending thedoors or gates F of the hopper are by the connections described compelled to assume a closed position against the further ingress of grain and before the receptacle has descended far enough to open the discharge. In the further descent of the receptacle, the lever B is caused to slide downward in the slotted end of the bar P, and the latch of the lever is disengaged from its stop 71, thus releasing the doors, which open under the weight of the grain, which latter is discharged below. The grain having been dis ICO- .while the weights M close the doors of the discharge.

It will be seen that the doors K must move simultaneously in opening and closing, such movements being controlled by the slide-bars J, rods I, and the counter-weights, and, having been closed, the latch-lever is compelled to engage with the stop it through the action of the spring S. As the slide J and receptacle ascend, the gates F are again opened through the connections described, whereupon grain again enters the receptacle, and the operation repeated, as before, until the supply has been exhausted or shut off.

A device constructed as herein shown and described will be found to be perfectly auto matic in its operation. 7

\Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. A grain-meter provided with a counterpoised receptacle, connterweighted doors at the discharge of such receptaele,and the means,

substantially as described, for opening and closing said doors, in combination with a ver tically-moving latch-lever connected with a pivoted arm connected with the frame, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a grainuneter, the combination of a eonnterpoised receptacle, 0, provided with counterweighted doors K, and a hopper provided with shutoff gates with the sliding bar J and connecting rod or link L and rods 1,

and roekshafts connected with said gates and rods, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a couuterpoised receptacle, O, a fixed hopper, E, provided with gates F, and rockshafts G, journaled in said hopper,with the sliding bar J, sliding in guides on the end of said receptacle, and rods I, con neeted to the rock-shafts of said gates F, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a conntcrpoised receptacle, 0, provided with discharge-doors K, with the rigid arm 0, bar I, pivoted thereto, and a vertically-moving latch-lever, R, connected with said bar, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In combination with the doors K of a grain-meter, the latch-lever 1t, spring S, slotted bar I, and rigid arm 0, the parts being constructed, arranged, and operating substantiallyin themanner and for the purposes specified.

6. In a grain-meter, the combination of the counterpoised receptacle (J, eounterweighted doors K, rods L, vertically-sliding bar J, rods 1, connected to the rockerarms H of the rockshafts G, gates F, and .[ixcd hopper E, the parts being constructed, arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and for the pun poses described.

JOSEPH B. DUTTON. Vitnesses:

H. S. Srnaonu, E. J. SCULLY. 

